Abstract
High emotional demands in caregiving professions have been found to be closely related to emotional exhaustion and burnout. Simultaneously, there is a staff shortage in this area of the labor market throughout the world as well as in
the Faroe Islands as the number of Faroese citizens in need of professional caretaking only is growing. This shortage poses significant risks, not only for those in need of professional care but also to the well-being of the caregivers themselves.
The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how the emotional demands in the work of nurses may impact their work capacity and their ability to continue providing care while maintaining professional quality. The study also sought to gather knowledge about the coping strategies these professionals use to manage the demands, what contributes to compassion fatigue, and what can help prevent it.
This study employed qualitative research design, using semi-structured interviews with 15 experienced nurses working in caregiving roles. We developed three themes in our analysis: 1. The meaningful and paradoxical work, 2. The burden of being alone with emotional demands, and 3. A compassionate working environment is pivotal.
The conclusions are as follows: 1. The emotional demands of nursing are both giving and meaningful. Emotional engagement is an inherent aspect of the job, and it is also an inherent aspect to be able to put one's own emotions aside in some work situations; but to continuously try to control emotions with rationality is neither a beneficial nor a sustainable approach to deal with the emotional demands. 2. A
safe, supportive, and compassionate work environment is essential for high-quality care. Therefore, it must be a priority for those responsible for shaping the framework of this profession. 3. Regular forums where colleagues meet to discuss
challenging situations provide a proactive and sustainable approach to supporting the well-being of care workers.
the Faroe Islands as the number of Faroese citizens in need of professional caretaking only is growing. This shortage poses significant risks, not only for those in need of professional care but also to the well-being of the caregivers themselves.
The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how the emotional demands in the work of nurses may impact their work capacity and their ability to continue providing care while maintaining professional quality. The study also sought to gather knowledge about the coping strategies these professionals use to manage the demands, what contributes to compassion fatigue, and what can help prevent it.
This study employed qualitative research design, using semi-structured interviews with 15 experienced nurses working in caregiving roles. We developed three themes in our analysis: 1. The meaningful and paradoxical work, 2. The burden of being alone with emotional demands, and 3. A compassionate working environment is pivotal.
The conclusions are as follows: 1. The emotional demands of nursing are both giving and meaningful. Emotional engagement is an inherent aspect of the job, and it is also an inherent aspect to be able to put one's own emotions aside in some work situations; but to continuously try to control emotions with rationality is neither a beneficial nor a sustainable approach to deal with the emotional demands. 2. A
safe, supportive, and compassionate work environment is essential for high-quality care. Therefore, it must be a priority for those responsible for shaping the framework of this profession. 3. Regular forums where colleagues meet to discuss
challenging situations provide a proactive and sustainable approach to supporting the well-being of care workers.
| Translated title of the contribution | Care work under pressure: The emotional demands of Faroese nurses |
|---|---|
| Original language | Faroese |
| Place of Publication | Tórshavn |
| Publisher | Felagið Føroyskir Sjúkrarøktarfrøðingar |
| Number of pages | 26 |
| Edition | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 14 Mar 2025 |
Keywords
- Care workers
- Emotional demands
- Coping strategies
- Nurses